Journalists and academics bear the brunt of the massive crackdown on freedom of expression in Turkey. Scores of them are currently subject to criminal investigations or behind bars. This website is dedicated to tracking the legal process against them.

Information on this website is compiled by Punto24 (Platform for Independent Journalism) from open sources.

Journalists in State of Emergency – 19

Academic Mehmet Altan, who was kept in detention for 12 days on charges of having given televised “subliminal pro-coup messages” was put under arrest by a court on Sept. 22 and his older brother Ahmet Altan, a prominent novelist and journalist, who was also detained over the same accusation, was put under arrest on Sept. 23.

The 10th Criminal Judicature of Peace on duty, which ruled to arrest Mehmet Altan, alluded to his remarks made during a television program aired on July 14 in its rationale for the arrest ruling. The court ruling said, “Suspect Mehmet Altan said in a television program he made one day before the coup attempt: ‘There is likely another structure within the hierarchy of the Turkish state which documents and monitors these developments more vehemently than the outside world. It is not clear when that structure will make a move and how it will make this move’ indicating that he clearly stated the presence of an atmosphere conducive to a coup d’état.”

The İstanbul 1st Criminal Judicature of Peace, which issued the arrest decision for Ahmet Altan, claimed that during his term as editor-in-chief of the Taraf newspaper, Altan allowed the publication of “front page stories seeking to undermine the reputation of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK),” and thus “served the ultimate purpose of the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ),” which authorities claim is the culprit behind the July 15 coup attempt. The arrest ruling stated that Ahmet Altan “knew of the coup attempt” and had acted with the purpose of “preparing the grounds for a military coup attempt and shape public opinion in that direction”. The presiding judge, Bekir Altun, said an article titled “Mutlak Korku” (Absolute Fear) by Ahmet Altan published on May 12, 2016 and another one, titled “Ezip Geçmek” (Riding Roughshod), published on June 27, 2016 were indications that the writer “knew of the coup plot and worked to create fertile ground for the coup.”

The number of individuals who have been arrested or convicted for their journalism as of September 25 has reached 121, after the Altan brothers’ arrests and the release of a Dicle News Agency correspondent. Dozens of other journalists were reported to have been detained during the coup investigation with no later updates on their legal status; which means that the actual number of those under arrest might be higher.

About 300 academics, philosophers and writers, including Nobel Laureates, have supported a signature campaign organized in support of the Altan Brothers. The support campaign is ongoing and new signatures keep coming in.

English Pen, which organized a protest outside the Turkish Embassy in London on Sept. 23, has issued a call for the release of Ahmet and Mehmet Altan and Necmiye Alpay. The writers’ group also left copies of letters and petitions supported by hundreds of signers voicing support for the imprisoned writers of Turkey in front of the building.

Journalists on trial

A large number of trials where journalists appeared as suspects took place in the week of Sept. 19 – 25.

Journalists Hasan Cemal, Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Mehmet Kamil Güç and Nadire Mater testified to prosecutors at the İstanbul Courthouse on Sept. 23 for having acted as an editor-in-chief of the now-shuttered Özgür Gündem for a day, to show solidarity with the newspaper. No arrests were made after the initial testimony of the defendants.

On Sept. 21, Cumhuriyet’s Ankara Bureau Chief Erdem Gül appeared before a court facing charges of “aiding a terrorist organization,” because of a news story published by Cumhuriyet suggesting that the country’s National Intelligence Agency (MİT) sent arms to jihadist groups in Syria. The trial was adjourned until Nov. 16. The court also ruled to merge Gül’s case with that of Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Enis Berberoğlu, who is accused of having provided Cumhuriyet’s Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar with photographs showing weapon-laden trucks en route to Syria, allegedly owned by the MİT.

Journalist Hasan Cemal testified to a court on Sept. 21 on charges of “insulting the president.” His statement will be forwarded to a court in Ankara.

On Sept. 21, journalists Ahmet Şık, Nedim Şener, Soner Yalçın and writer Yalçın Küçük testified in the court case known as the “Oda TV trial.” The session was adjourned until Oct. 24.

Cumhuriyet correspondent Canan Coşkun also testified in court on Sept. 22 over her news story on the alleged sale of luxury housing units to judges and prosecutors at significantly low rates. Her case was also adjourned until Oct. 20.

Developments outside coup probe

Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporter Feyyaz Irmak, who had been under arrest for eight months, was released on Sept. 20 after the second hearing of his trial.

Another DİHA reporter, Mehmet Kurnaz, was kept in custody for four days and finally released on Sept. 9 after being detained in Ankara on Sept. 5 while covering a news story.

On Sept. 10, Doğan News Agency correspondent Ferit Demir, İhlas News Agency reporter Ercan Topaç, Anatolia reporter Haydar Toprakçı and Rudaw reporter Ali Haydar Gözlü were detained by the military while filming a bombardment by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in Tunceli province. The journalists were released, but only after the deletion of footage on their phones and cameras.

DİHA reporters Ruken Demir and Rozerin Alağaş were detained on Sept. 13 briefly while covering a news story in Diyarbakır. The two journalists were later released.

The main office of the Özgür Halk magazine, located in İstanbul’s Beyoğlu district, was raided by police on Sept. 9. No arrests were made.

In a development that took place outside Turkey, A Haber news reporter Fatih Özyar was taken into custody by Dutch police for 15 hours while reporting on recent arrests of several Turkish citizens in the city of Poelenburg. A Vlogger, İsmail İlgün, was also detained during the incidents, Dutch media reported.

In another development that took place outside Turkey, there have been reports of Yılmaz Bilgen, a Yeni Şafak reporter, being abducted by an armed group in Syria. Reports have said Bilgen was released after being held for two days.

Further passport cancellations

After the declaration of State of Emergency in Turkey following the July 15 coup attempt, thousands of passports were canceled under Decree No: 667. Recent reports have said on Sept. 1, 46 more journalist passports were canceled.

Last known legal status of journalists for whom detention warrants have been issued as part of post-coup probe

Abdullah Abdulkadiroğlu, Samanyolu TV, Left the country according to AA

Detain / Place in custody: To hold in police custody for police interrogation first, and later for testimony to a prosecutor. Might lead to a court appearance depending on the action taken by the prosecutor.

Arrest: To put into prison indefinitely – by court order – pending trial.

Released on probation: Released with an international flight ban issued. Usually entails checking in regularly with a designated police station.

These lists have been compiled by P24 editors from open news sources and will be updated regularly. Journalists who want to report developments about themselves or their colleagues can contact us at punto24info@gmail.com